Spring clip



oct. 12, 1943. E B, BRIGGS 2,331,452

SPRING CLIP Filed sepf. 12, 1941 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 y .rnestl Briggs, Dubuque, Iowa, assignor of one-r ,l

fourth to. Gladys Jolly, lflossm'ore,` 111., one'- fourth to Irene Harris, Cincinnati, Qhio, 'and one-fourth toDorothy Davis, Dubuque, Iowa Application september 12,1941', serialNo.110,136l.7,`

2 claims., `(c1. eri- 25511:

'I'his invention'relates tospring clips, andv its general object isto providefa clip that is capable i of performing a'dual clamping function, and for that purpose the clip includes a pairl of spring pressed clamping jaws for fastening papers vor the like together, lor for setting up a clamping action with any article in conjunction with which the clip may be used, and one of the jaws coopn erateswith the spring means of the jaws for detachably holding a writing implement such as a pen or pencil against casual removal or displacement, and without interference from or with the clamping action of the jaws or the opening or closing thereof.

A further object is to provide a spring clip that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manu- 1 facture, and extremely efficient in operation, use and service. Y

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompaying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a rear view of my spring clip and illustrates a pencil clamped therein.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 looking toward the point of the pencil.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an end view partly in section, with the pencil removed.

Figure 5 is a front View of the clip.

Figure 6 is a view of one of the jaw members, and looking toward the inner face thereof.

Figure 7 is a front View of the tubular spring member.

Figure 8 is a View of the other jaw member and looking toward the inner face thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral l indicates a longitudinally split tubular spring member made from a singlerectangular strip of resilient sheet metal` rolled transversely upon itself to provide spaced inner and outer longitudinal edges 2 and 3 respectively, and the end edge portions of the tubular member are preferably outwardly ared to provide anges 4. The tubular member is provided with a slot 5 extending circumferentially thereof from adjacent the inner edge 2 and through the entire front. portion yof.y the member; soY thatv the v inner end ofthe slot, terminates substantiallydiametricallyfoppositethe outer edgeB.: f

The jaw members eachinclude a dat `rectangular body;` @11d the. body 6 Ais formedwith-a handle 1 extending midwaythejends ofA one longitudinal edge thereofrfor` disposaliin thexsameplane with itsbodygwhile thebody isformed witlna handle 9 that likewise extends midway the ends of one longitudinal edge thereof, but the handle 9 is bent at its juncture with the body for disposal at an angle thereto, as best shown in Figure 4,

The jaw members are normally arranged in face to face relation with each other, with the handles extending through the slot 5 and the bodies outwardly beyond the edges 2 and 3. The

extending ends of the bodies are preferably beveled as shown, and the outer faces of the bodies are each provided with a groove forming seats l0 and Il along the length thereof and adjacent their outer ends, the edge 2k of the tubular member being mounted in the seat ID, while the edge 3 is mounted in the seat II. The handle 1 is provided with a groove that forms a seat I2 for the inner end of the slot 5, as bestshown in Figure '4.

The handle 'l is preferably provided with a hole I3, so that the clip can be suspended from a nail,

hook or the like, and as the handle 9 is arranged at an angle to its body 8, it will be disposed at an outward inclination relative to the handle 1, when to the` arrangement of the edges 2 and 3 relative against the action of the tubular spring member, Y

through the medium of the handles, and the spring member not only urges and holds the jaw members to and in clamping position, but due to each other, the-,jaw members `are normally urged rearwardly for ydisposal of the handle 'l in bearing engagement with the inner end of the slot 5, and with said inner end mounted in the groove or seat l2, sowhen 'afwritingimplement such as a pencil as y"shown is mounted between the body 6 and the tubular member, the latter` and the body 6 will set upa clamping action against the pencil and hold the same secured to" the clip against casual removal or displacement,

and `in a manner whereby the pencil can be easily and expeditiously removed and applied with respect to the clip.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention Will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the yseveral parts, provided that suon changes *fall Within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is:

l. In a spring clip of the character described, a longitudinally split tubular spring member pro; vided with a circumferential slot, a pair of cornpanion jaw elements mounted transversely of the tubular member and extending through the ,'S'lbt and between the longitudinal ofthe tubular member, the said longitudinal edges of the tubular member being disposed in lradiallyvoifset r'elation, an end portion of one of saidjaw elements being 4bent to assume an outwardly diverging angle with 'the "complementary iport'ion of the 'opposite y'javi elements, the maior 'body por; tions of the jaw elem'ent's being yi'eldajbly'urg'e'd `to face to `face 'cent'acting positions :bythe spring member and 'operable to open ilarhiping positions. 2. FA spring 'clip comprising a :longitudinally split tubular `spring member 'f'shaped to provide spaced 'inner 'and outer longitudinal -fe'dges and outwardly flared ends, said member having a slot extending for approximately one-half of its circumference from adjacent said inner longitudinal edge, a pair of companion jaw members each including a at rectangular body disposed between said edges with the latter bearing against the bodies for urging and holding the jaw members to and i'n lamping relation and at the end of the slot remote from said inner longitudinal edge to cooperate with the tubular member to set upfaclamping action, said bodies having grooves extending longitudinally thereof and providing seats having -sa'i'd inner and outer longitudinal 'edges niountedtherein, said bodies extending outwardly beyond sai'd inner and outer longitudinal edges and having their outer edge portions bevele'd, handles 'formed 'on the bodies and extending through said slot, the handle of one jaw member being arranged at an angle to its body for disposal at 1an'outwardinclinationrelative to the handle of the other .Jaw "member, the latter :handle havingagroove therein providing a. seat for` receiving said end vof the fslot, and `the latter handlevbeing :provided with an opening for suspending the clip .fromAsui-table supportingm'eans.

ERNESTB. BRIGGS. 

